Modest Eye of the wisdome of God and the Wisdome is the Holy Spirits Corporeity wherein he dwelleth It is his Eternall Looking-Glasse wherein he hath discovered or discerned the Great Wonders from Eternity 314. And the Holy Spirit is gone forth or proceeded from the Word viz out of the Center or Heart of God forth from the Father viz out of the Fire through the Light into the Majesty into the Essence of the Paradisicall and Angelicall World understand into that Essence or into the Pure Element viz into the Substantiality of the Heavenly Corporeity 315. This very Substantiality or Corporeity as is now mentioned was Christs heavenly Flesh and Bloud For the Noble Tincture maketh the Water out of the Majesty turne into Spirituall Bloud 316. That very Substantiality which was in the Covenant wherein the Promised Word of God stood is Entered into Maryes Substantiality viz into the in Death inclosed Substantiality and is become a Body and hath made that which was shut up living againe The divine and heavenly Paradisicall Substantiality in the Covenant and Maries Substantiality is become ONE thing the Life sprouted or grew in Death 317. Therefore is Christ become our Life and Spirit also our Flesh and Bloud and therefore he giveth us understand our Souls-Fire his heavenly Body and Bloud to eate and to drink Our Soul hath with the Divine Substantialities Entrance againe gotten heavenly flesh for its Fire-Life it burneth againe in the divine source or quality out of the Love-Substantiality 318. The Holy Tincture according to the divine Fires Property belongeth to the Soul and the Waters property viz the Lights Meeknesse belongeth to the Body the Body is alwayes under or beneath the Soul 319. For the Soul it out of the Eternall Nature-Fire it is the Principle between the Dark and Light World it hath the Center of the Fire-World in it self 320. And the Substantiality is out of the Center of the Light-world in the Divine desire it cometh to a Substance for it is the substance of the Desire the Desire is Spirit and that which is comprehended in the Desire is the Substance of the Desire 321. And what can the desire comprehend other then it self that is the Meeknesse of the Light that is a sinking downe of the Love and Meeknesse towards the Fire-Spirit that riseth up That the Fire-Spirit continually comprehendeth in its desire and consumeth it that is it bringeth it through the sharpnesse of the Father and there it goeth through death againe forth into the Liberty and maketh the source or quality of the divine World for the Spirit of God is understood therein 322. Not that there is a dying or Death therein but the Fire source or quality is accounted for a Death for the Roote of the Fire is the Dark World with its sterne formes to the Fire-Nature As in the Book of the Six Points of the Great Mysterie is expresly mentioned at Large 323. Now understand the sence aright Gods Substantiality hath been from Eternity it is unmeasurable and unsathomable it is every where all over wheresoever a Man can say here is God there is also the Divine Substantiality yet not in the Outward World in the Third Principle but in the Heavenly in the Second Principle 324. Therefore said Christ John 3. 13. None goeth to Heaven but the sonne of Man which is come from Heaven and which it in Heaven his divine Substantiality was in Heaven and yet it was come into the Humanity and the Humanity is without him dead in Adam 325. Now would any goe into Heaven they must then have his substance on them He is the Ladder that Jacob saw which with one End reached to Heaven and with the other End in the Humanity 326. A Man is to understand it thus that the Body of Christ understand the Corporeity of the divine Substantiality which hath revealed or manifested it self in the Corporized Substantiality of the Humanity in Mary is Greater then ALL. 327. The divine Substantiality is not totally gone into the Creaturely Image that cannot be for it is unmeasurable Only it hath revealed or manifested it self in the humane Substantiality in the Created Image in the Becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ and kindled the humane and given its Life understand into Adam's Image which also was in Mary and in all Men. Question 328. Now it may be asked What kinde of Person was Mary being the Limit of Gods Covenant stood in her Or how did CHRIST get Body and Soul in Her and yet remained what he was from Eternity Answer 329. Many was First a Bodily Issue and Daughter of Eve the Mother of us all and of her right Mother Anna and of her right Father Joachim no immaculate pure virgin understand according to the outward World for the Anger of God stuck also in her and shee is redeemed or reconciled through the Bloud of Christ 330. And according to the Second Principle her Image stood also shut up in Death But the Limit or Mark stood in her understand in her Image but undiscernably and unperceivably in that way and manner as God is in all and the Thing knoweth nothing of him for God dwelleth not in the Thing he possesseth Nothing but only himself Thus was the Limit or Mark in Mary and Gods Promise in the Word of Life was in the Limit or Mark yet not dwelling in Mary but in it self 331. God had never according to his Heart moved himself from Eternity and when once he moved himself in Mary in the Limit or Mark then Mary became highly blessed and in the Blessing impregnate with the Saviour For the Life came into Death into the in Death inclosed Essence 332. Now yet the Seed of Man qualified or operated with the Body and now when the divine Life came into the Essence of the Seed of Mary then her whole Body viz the Images Body according to the Second Principle became Highly Blessed And in this new Wonderous Entrance and Moving of God was brought to Life so that her Essence became living and the Tincture of her Bloud became kindled with the Divine Tincture understand the Seeds Tincture which qualifieth or mixeth with the whole Body 333. But the outward Kingdome of this World was not at this time broken off from Mary that held her still captive SHEE must through Dying through her Sons Death enter into the Eternall Life 334. Her Body indeed did not vanish or fall away for it was in the Midst in the Blessing only the Earthly source or quality must break or corrupt in her and all Adam's Children must enter through One and the same Entrance into Life viz through the Dying of Christ when Christ quenched the Soul-Fire on the Crosse in Death then also Maryes Soul-Fire became quenched that is rightly kindled in the Light of the Majesty 335. The outward Body remained to be a Covering before it so long as it stood in the source or quality of the Stars
expected in me and so how much I want of the Infinite effect of being able to dwell with the Eternall Burnings I may well account my self one of the unworthiest of the children of Men John Sparrow The First APOLOGIE To Balthazar Tylcken Being An Answer of the Authour concerning his Book the AVRORA Opposed by an Enemicitious Pasquil or Opprobrious Libel This Answer Written Anno 1621. By Jacob Behme Also called Teutonicus Philosophus Englished by JOHN SPARROW LONDON Printed by M. S. for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at his Shop at the Black-Spread-Eagle at the West end of St. Pauls 1661. A brief and well intended Answer of the Authour concerning his Book AVRORA against the enimicitions Pasquil or Libel in respect of some opposed and falsly recited Articles or Conclusions and ill-understood by this Libeller 1. INto what Calamity Misery Anxiety and great Perplexity we are plenged by the heavy fall of Adam is dayly demonstrated in that we have not only thereby obscured and darkened our Noble Image so that we cannot any more see or apprehend the Divine Light unlesse we become borne of God againe but also we have thereby awakened and made stirring in US the Originall fierce Wrath of the Eternall Nature so that the fierce wrath venome and poyson thereof is become Springing up and burning in us 2. Which is rightly called GODS Anger-Fire which should not become stirring and Manifest but continue shut up in the Center for it should remaine shut up in the Love in the Divine Light and be only a cause of Life and Mobility 3. Which so long as it remaineth shut up in the Light is a Spring or Fountaine of Joy and Knowledge but if the Light Extinguisheth is an Evill Opposite Poyson wherein nothing qualifyeth or operateth but meere self Enmity or Hatred where instantly all Love and desire of Good hath an End 4. As we poor Children of Eve must now feele in us with great paine sorrow and Misery how that fierce wrath stirreth driveth and vexeth us so that now we no more converse one with another in Love as Children of God but very venomously spitefully hatefully murtheringly and enimicitiously doe maliciously persecute dispise slander and reproach also rob Murther and doe all manner of Evill and alwayes wish death fierce wrath and all Evill one to another 5. Which great Misery and Evill is sufficiently to be traced in this Libell and out of what manner of Mind knowledge and Will it is flowen forth in that he undertakes not only to Misconstrue the words but also to wrest the whole understanding into a false meaning or sense and to pronounce the Authour to be a Devill and in a very vaunting reproachfull spitefull Malicious and Odious manner likeneth the Authours Will or Intent thought or sence and mind to the Devill without any knowledge of him who he is how he is or what Spirit 's Child he is whether he seeks God or this World 6. Thus he takes upon him to infinuate his innate poyson into the Heart thought or sense and Will or intention of the Authour all which is very horrible lamentable and Miserable in that he knoweth not himself or from what Mind his Zeal proceeds and in whose driving he runneth 7. He cannot see that his whole writing is a meer venomons Pasquil or Libel and Evill meaning or intention for though that which is spoken is not reproveable by him yet he can not leave it unreproached whereby a man may cleerly see out of what Spirit and Mind it is flowen forth and how the miserable fierce wrath hath ruled in him and yet he dares set in his Title that it is Christian-like and well intended 8. But if he would set any thing better in the room of it it might indeed be born with But I can find in all his Writing no Divine Knowledge and Light which yet he highly boasteth of as if he had an enlightened Mind and Thoughts and were Exercised therein 9. An Enlightened Mind or thoughts if the Light be from God proceedeth friendly and lovingly and instructeth a Man what he should Doe and leave undone it owneth others in a brotherly Duty it hunteth not Mens Minds into the Jawes of the Devill but they are Gentle in reproving and teaching with Good instruction They reprove in Generally they catch not hold of a Man Privately particularly and Singly and make not a Den of Theevery or Murther by the Good Way side 10. An Enlightened Mind which hath Exercised Thoughts as the Libeller would seem to have knoweth the Gifts of God that they are without End or Number that God Leadeth his Children Wonderfully and giveth to one a Divers gift to Expresse than to another as the Apostle also witnesseth the same 11. That God giveth to one from the gift of his Spirit to do Miracles or Wonders to another to interpret Tongues to a Third to Prophesie to a Fourth to speak with Tongues c. and all from the One only Spirit of God which thus speaketh from the Great Wonders of the eternall Wisdome of God and thus Driveth and teacheth the Children of God that the unmeasurable Wisdome of God may appear in his Children 12. If the Spirit of God ruleth in a Man then he is NOT Crafty suttle Deceitfull trecherous Lying astonishing ambitious but reproveable teachable and Meek he is not thorney prickley Misconstruing and vainly frivolous he suddenly apprehends what is in a Man and from what Spirit he Speaketh For the Spirit of God it self knoweth it self very well in a Man it needeth no Witnesse it tryeth the Heart and the Reins Soul and Body it speaketh the Truth and disgraceth or reproacheth no man it drives on all to that which is good and proveketh Men to Righteousnesse 13. But this whole Libell or Pasquil is nothing Else but a Misconstruing poysoning and disgracing he draweth the Scripture by the hair of the Head and corrupteth it that he may but take occasion to prick with Thorns besides he hath no right understanding of the Scripture that must serve him as he will have it meane that he may therewith satisfie his fierce wrath and bring it as fuell to his ficrce Fire that it may burn farre and neere and so make shew of his Deep knowledge though he should thereby tread his Brother Abel under his feet 14. And yet his knowledge which he hath here brought forth to the Day Light Concerning GODS Will is as to one part in Bibell and he largely buildeth the Babylonish Tower therewith as it shall be set before his eyes which for my part I doe unwillingly but now necessity requires I must doe it 15. Not for my own sake but for the sake of those whom he hath kindled with his envious fire and poysoned and hath insinuated into them very Erroneous Opinions especially concerning Gods Election of Grace therefore it behoveth me to cleere my meaning how I have apprehended it in Divine knowledge and how also it
Pen the poor fallen Man and the poor captive perished Soul and shewed how it becometh helped or saved again 131. He looked in this Description not only into the outward Kingdome into the 4 Elements and Stars but into the inward Kingdome into the first Principle whence the soul originally ariseth He understandeth somwhat else by the Wild Nature then the Pasquill or Libeellr understandeth He meant not Stars and four Elements also not the beastiall flesh which is of this World as the Pasquil or Libeller reproacheth but he meant the Center the fire-source of the soul which had Extinguished the Light of God and introduced the earthly Imagination from the kingdome of this world 132. He understood how the poor soul after its fall became a Creaturely Magick-Fire in Gods Eternall Anger-fire and THAT he called the wilde Nature for the soul standeth in the Eternall beginningless Nature in the first Principle of God the Father and is the Cause of the Image of God 133. It hath all formes of the Eternall Nature in it It hath in the Essence ever been from Eternity but in the Creation passed into a Creature It is from or out of the fire wherein God the Father ever generateth forth his Light And is in its Originall without besides or beyond the Light of God an anxious horrible Substance like a horrible brimstone worme for it is a Magick-fire from or out of Gods fire which is the Eternall Natures Originall 134. Which when the Eternall fire of God moved it self became desirous to have its re-awakening and Comprised in its desire an awakened similitude according to and out of it self understand out of the Desire of the Eternall Fire which is only a Spirit and originateth in the will which is the One-Element-fire which standeth in the inward re-awakening and Consumeth that againe continually in the Comprised Substance of the Desire and continually thereby only awakeneth it self as is to be seen in the kindling in the outward Kingdome 135. Out of that Eternall Nature out of its properties understand out of the Eternall which is the Center and a Principle in it self a Magick-fire of God which it self is God the Father according to the Eternall Nature the Eternall Light becometh Generated and shineth in that Nature in its properties that the properties of the fierce wrath and Anger become not manifest but are only a cause of the shining of the Life 136. For the Light maketh also a Center in it self with other properties That which in the fires property is a fierce wrath that in the Lights property is a desire of the substance of the Light and is called Love and Meekness That draweth the fierce wrathfull fire into it self and Extinguisheth the fierce wrath of the fire therewith so that out of the fire Joy cometh to be 137. For the Anxious fires desire is after Meeknesse and the Meeknesses desire is after the fiery Essence that it may be a Life Thus each desire maketh a Will-Spirit one out of the Fire and one out of the Light and yet is but ONE only but with TWO properties 138. And God calleth himself a God according to the Lights property understand a God of Love Meekness and Mercy and according to the Fires property he calleth himself an Angry Zealous or Jealous God and a Consuming fire and yet he is but ONE and not TWO as in the Book of the Threefold Life and in the Three Principles is mentioned and expounded at Large with many Circumstances 139. This thus briefly mentioned is now the Most Originall Spirit where in the fires property the Eternall Nature is understood and much more in the formes to Fire which make the Eternall Center as is mentioned in the Three Principles 140. And understand further That the Desire in that Eternall Spirit according to both properties hath from Eternity Continually been a Delight Longing or Lust to seek and to finde it self and hath continually found it self in it self each property its like both according to the fierce Wrath and the Love according to fire and light and according to all formes to the Fire and according to all formes in the Light of the Love 141. That which is found hath been the Spirits Looking-Glasse in the Love in the Light the Looking Glasse is called Gods wisdome and in the fierce wrath of the fire it is called Gods Anger-Eye 142. In this Looking-Glasse hath been seen from Eternity the substance of this world viz. the Third Principle for it hath stood in the Magicall Desire indeed not in Substance but in the Looking-Glasse in the Desire of the Eternall Nature wherein the Spirit hath discovered it self and with the beginning of this world with the moving of the Eternall Nature by the Spirit of God in the harsh or astringent Fiat created it into a Substance into a similitude according to the property of the Eternall Nature according to all formes to Nature and according to all Formes in Nature 143. Whatsoever became generated in Nature viz. in the Principle belonged to the kingdome of God and hath the Name of God But whatsoever became generated in the Formes to Nature that belongeth to the dark angwish-world 144. All properties became moved and each property set it self in its Looking-Glasse for a FIGURE according to its Essence understand according to the Desires Essence 145. The harsh or astringent Mairix to Nature was the Fiat which comprised the similitude and Image and brought it into a substantiall Beeing through Gods moving 146. Understand according to the will-spirit which goeth forth out of the Lights Center and according to the Will-spirit which goeth forth out of the fives Center and yet is but ONE But in TWO properties viz. Two Magick desires 147. As Men see in the Creature how Love and Anger stick in One Minde and yet have Two Centers all accordingly as the Outward Will-spirit discovers in any One so is the awakening in Love and Anger and Men see in this world in the Creatures how there are Evill and Good Wolves and Sheep Serpents and good Fish Poysonous Toads and lovely handsome Beasts and living Creatures Every one out of its Mothers property springing from the Eternall Originall 148. In this Eternall Looking-Glasse of the wisdome of God hath also the soul of Man from Eternity by the Spirit of God been discovered in the Essence which with the beginning of the first Moving in the Fiat of God became formed into a Creature according to the similitude of the Birth or Geniture of God 149. The Spirit of God discovered in the Looking-Glasse of wisdome an Image according to his similitude or likenesse understand out of both the Magick fires in the Principle of the Light a Totall entire similitude according to the Deity as to all the Three Principles 150. If we would conceive of the Eternall divine Birth or Geniture in the Light of the Majesty in its Tri-unity and then of the soul of Man in its Image
is the Seperation between Gods Name and Natures Name also between the Love-source or quality and the Naturall fierce wraths source or quality 495. In the Fire exist Two Principles viz Two Magia's Two desirous Wills viz the Lights and the Fires 496. The Light is a desire of Love Meeknesse and Substantiality and that is in the Eternity called God The Light is the Majesty the Lights desire is the Other or second Center or the Heart of God the Substantiality is Gods Substance it is the Water source or quality or the Spirit of the Eternall Joys Life 497. And the Fire maketh in the Water-source or quality the Tincture or Life so that Gods Substantiality is a Life That very Lights Substantiality is the Words or Hearts Cerporeity wherein the Great Mystery of the Will of the Abysse viz the Wisdome becometh Manifest 498. And the Fire is another Principle then the Light it hath a fierce wrathfull stinging consuming Desire climing up in Might and Pomp it willeth to consume and swallow up all into it self it is a cause of the Covetousnesse its Bitternesse is a Cause of the Envy for it is the sting of Death and Anger 499. And here goe back into the Formes to Fire and then thou wilt find the Dark World and the hellish fierce Wrath and in the Fire GODS Anger which the Light viz his Heart holdeth captive in the Love-Source or Quality and allayeth or meekeneth the Fires fierce-Wrath 500. For the Water of the Eternall Life generated or born out of the Meeknesse viz Gods Substantiality maketh out of the Divine Fire-source or quality another source or quality viz the climibing up of the Divine Joys Kingdome The Fire-source or quality must only be a cause of the Life and of the Light as also of the Spirit and of the Joys Kingdome 501. And heare the Name God severeth it self in the Trinity viz In the First Center to Nature viz the Eternall Will of the Fiat which in the Fire is a sterne severe zealous Substance and in the Light the cause of the Joys Kingdome and of the Spirit of Life That is the Father of all Substances also of his Sonnes viz of the second Centers of the Love-desires 502. And The Other or second Center of the power of the Light is his Sonne or Heart and maketh in himself and in the Father the Second Principle viz the Angelicall World that is our right Fathers or Native Country which Christ brought into US againe 503. And The Spirit going forth from the Fire in the Light is the Third Person in the Light in the Love and the Joy-source or quality He is called God the Holy Spirit understand according to the Sonnes Center and according to the Fires Center he is called The anger-Anger-Spirit of the Father 504. In the Dark World HE is the Life of the Hellish source or quality out of all Formes to Nature In the Fire HE is the Flame of the fierce wrathfull Anger of God the Father and in the Light HE is the flame of the Great Love of God He is the right Life of God and is also the Life of all the Three Principles of all the Three Worlds in each World according to its property and is only knowne or acknowledged and rightly called God the Holy Spirit according to the Love viz according to property of the Sonne of God Else he is called the Spirit of the Nature of all things or Substances 505. Seeing we here goe so deep we will therefore shew you somewhat more out of true Love and not out of a Desire so totally to reproach you because of your unskilfulnesse or ignorance for we know you better then you do your selfe and though we are zealous over you yet it should be understood heartily as a reproofe of your high climbed stately proud Will over the Spirit of God from which I have my knowledge 506. Consider of the Principle of Fire and see how the Dead ariseth and how he dieth Behold the Fire is a great hungry desire after Substance and if it cannot have that then it extinguisheth 507. Here consider the Great desire of the Father after the Sonne viz. of the first Principle after the second how the Father thus in great desire loveth the Sonne for he is his life else were the Fathers Life a dry fainting hunger like the Devills and the Dark World for the Fire burneth not without the Substance of the Water-Spirit 508. Here consider what befell the Devill when he lost Gods Love and Meeknesse then he remained to be a dry hunger in the fierce Wrath of the Eternall Nature thus it goeth also with the Soul of Man for they originate all alike out of the Eternall Nature 509. Now see further what in the Center of the Fire is the Possibility and Substance you understand now that the fierce wrathfull Fire-source must have Substance and that the Fire-source or quality it self longeth after Substance and if the Fire get the Substance or the Substantiality of the Water-source or quality into it self then the Fire consumeth that Substantiality and then is the dying of the Substantiality for the Substantiality goeth againe into the Still Eternity without besides or beyond Nature viz into the Nothing 510. And you see rightly that yet there is no Dying but the Light goeth forth out of that very Death out of the Consumtibility forth and the Light is then first the power of the understanding and of the Thoughts or Senses Thus Death ariseth out of the Fire-Life viz into another World viz into the Eternall Nothing into the Liberty without besides or beyond Nature 511. And you see now that the Light dwelleth in the Fire without Source Quality or Torment and knoweth nothing of the fierce wrath of the Fire for it is in its Essence a Love Desire Thus have I written that the Deity viz. Gods Center knew nothing of the fall of the fierce wrathfull Devills but the first Principle know it viz the Father according to the Fires Nature and according to the Desire and according to the hunger in the Dark world 512. Here consider beloved Men and brethren in Christ what the suffering and dying of CHRIST as also OUR Dying is How our Soul must in Christs Death be introduced into the Center of the Hell of Gods Anger into the Principle of Gods Fire and go quite through the source or quality of the consumptibility into the other World viz into the Liberty into the Center of the Love of God 513. For Adam's Soul had turned it self out and was Dead to the Light in the Substantiality and therefore the second Adam brought the Soul againe into the Fire viz into Gods Anger-source or quality and kindled the Light againe in Death and there the Light shone againe in the Darknesse That was Death to Death and a Pestilence to the Anger viz to Hell 514. The Soul was gone forth out of the Liberty of God into the Nature of this World viz
like a Beast and is not the Noble Image which is saded and disappeared in Death which is created out of heavenly substantiality 578. But that thou wilt not allow me this that in Man understand in the Third Principle a humane Image according to the Angelicall World out of the Heavenly substantiality hath stood in the Inward yet I say that Gods Spirit that in the Second Principle goeth forth out of the First viz out of the Souls Fire of the Father into the Second out of the Love and Light Fire into the Sonne was never at all without substance for it is the Driver forth of the Divine power and substantiality 579. Hath now the Light and Spirit of God been in Man viz in Adam then also hath Gods substantiality been therein For no Fire burneth in Gods Love unlesse it have DIVINE substantiality 580. Therefore saith Christ Whosoever eateth NOT the Flesh of the Son of Man he hath no part in HIM He understandeth the Corporeity of his unmeasurable Eternall Divine Substantiality in the Water of the Eternall Life and in the Tincture of the Power out of the Fire and Light in the Glance or Lustre of the Divine Wisdome out of the Words Body 581. Now if Adam hath been a totall sumilitude according to God then he must not only have had Earthly Substance for his Body if the Soul had had only Earthly source or quality to Eat then it had not had the prohibition but it had also the Corporeity of the Second Principle out of the Heavenly Substantiality that was the right Angelicall Image which became created in the Fiat of the Word 582. But the Outward Fiat according to the Outward Principle Created the Outward Man and God the Holy Spirit breathed himself thereinto according to the source or quality and property of all the Three Principles into the outward Image according to its outward Property viz the Spirit of the Great World Majoris Mundi of the outward World and the Angelicall Divine World according to the Love of Gods Heart and according to the Eternall Nature viz according to the Fire-World viz according to the Fathers Property the right Soulish viz the Center of the whole Man 583. In Brief what is it that Men should make many words Man was a Totall similitude according to God according to all the Three Worlds and their Properties and that he must be againe or must be a hunger-Spirit in the Dark World 584. What he maketh of himself that he is He standeth here in the Field or Soyle either there groweth out of him an Herb on Gods Table or an Herb in Gods fierce Wrath what kind of Essence so ever he will bring in the growing according to the relish of that it will also get a Mouth for it will eat either of the Love or of the Anger 585. The matter is not about the high knowledge only but about the tast or relish that any becometh the Bread of God which God Eateth It lyeth little in the knowing but all in the DOING it must be DOING the Evill Branches must be Cut off that good Wine may grow 586. We should not judge and condemn one another for the knowledge sake The Plow-Man knoweth lesse then the Doctor but he goeth many times before the Doctor into the kingdome of Heaven let us fall upon DOING that we may get Divine Essence into our Sprout let us reach after the LOVE and then we have ALL. 587. MY high Knowledge maketh me not happy or saved for I know not my self it is not Mine but Gods Spirit knoweth it self in ME he allures Me therewith to himself when he departeth or withdraweth then I know Nothing 588. I have not my knowledge at all from Man why should I then long contend with Man about it no Man can either give it me or take it away from me 589. I deal foolishly in that I Strive with thee for thou canst take nothing from me but it is done for the sake of other people which through thy Mouth abuse my knowledge else I would for thy Cursings and Judgings not lift up a Finger 590. Thou shoudst Converse in Love as a Christian if thou wouldst be Gods childe but if thou Judgest thy brother into Hell-Fire for the sake of his Gift what will become of thee how doest thou know what is befallen him that he runneth on thus How dost thou know upon what Branch or Roote God hath ingrasted him Thou wert not at all by when he did sow the Spirit of his Wisdome 591. You say it is from the Devill and there was Joy in Heaven in Ternario Sancto in the Holy Ternary especially in the Fathers Nature when this Seed was sowne I would NOT give the little Graine that was sowen into me for all this worlds good It is more deare to me than Heaven and Earth and thou treadest it underfoote do but see what manner of Angel thou art 592. Thou writest much and if thou shouldst goe with thy writings to the Center there would be no body at home thou gatherest many Texts of Scripture together which in themselves are GOOD that thou mightst settle a framed Opinion concerning that thou knowest no Ground for 593. Thou canst not bring the Opinion into the Center and then bring it out againe there is no Spirit of Depth in thee but collected Matter from others Mouthes and thy own Mouth understandeth it not 594. But I write what I my self understand and what I can bring into the Ground of the Center 595. Art thou a Master then shew thy self one give me a writing concerning the Center of the Eternall and also of the outward Nature let it be seen what thou canst do prove it in the Light of Nature and not from a strange Mouth Speak from your own knowledge and then I will Answer thee 566. Let thy contemining alone and do thou direct it to the honour of God and make if serve the profit and salvation of Man that it may be a Sprour upon Gods Table and I will Answer thee that thou wilt Wonder and if thou meanest piously wilt highly rejoyce thou wouldst neither seek nor find any Devill in Me. 597. There is a great earnestnesse in me to seek my Eternall kingdome in God God hath not promised me a Scorpion instead of an Egge he would not give me to the Devill when I prayed so earnestly to him for his Holy Spirit 598. The Devill sets not upon a Man a spirituall high Triumphant Crowne or Garland of Victory in Ternario Sancto in the Holy Ternary when a Man Fights against him He hath none of THAT which hath been done to this Spirit which thou callest a Devill and whence its knowledge proceeded 599. I write not for my own Fame which is in God but to Teach Men what they may expect from God if they will but come to the Ring or Lists of this Earnest Fight unlesse the outward voluptuousnesse in soft pleasure of the Flesh
his charge with such evidence that even his adversaries may be convinced and reconciled to acknowledg the same truth with him The SECOND Apologie was in answer also to a Booke of Balthazar Tylckens against Jacob Behme's hints of Predestination mentioned in some of his treatises written before the yeare 1621. whereby the greate Controversies between the Lutherans and Calvinists about the will of God and of Man are kindly Reconciled but he not apprehending the Ground and depths in them which resolve those Questions did very much oppose this Author also the Tutour to his children whose name was Dr. Charles Weisner did take greate distast at him likewise as may be seen by a Letter at the End of the Epistles herewith printed but by personall Converse with J. B. he received such Satisfaction and Content that he asketh God forgiveness for his former hard Opinion of the Author But Balthazar Tylcken wrote also against the Booke of the Incarnation and Person of CHRIST and of the Virgin MARY to all which the Author hath answered particularly in this Apologie The Next Treatise is concerning the Four Complexions Compiled at the Desire of some friends upon the necessary Occasion of a Person that was very much tempted afflicted and perplexed by Satan and therein he hath very exactly deciphered the Nature of the Cholerick Sanguine Phlegmatick and Melancholy complexions with their Effects upon the Soule that inhabits them as a House in this outward Tabernacle also the Cures and Remedies to make them advantagious to the Soules progress in the way to Eternity while it is in this Life that never any treatise was written before so fully briefely and yet convincingly as far as hath been Commonly knòwn either among the bookes of Philosophy or Divinity it was formerly translated into English by a worthy Person in very Elegant language which notwithstanding was thought to be the writing of another authour by those that delighted to reade him not having the same Phrase with his other Bookes for which cause I was induced to re-translate it though not in so good a stile into that kinde of Expression which makes it known to be one of his workes The following Piece was his Considerations upon a Booke set forth by Esaias Stiefel concerning the Threefold State of Man and of the Newbirth of the River flowing out of Sion and the New Jerusalem wherein are handled distinctly that Threefold State and Condition of Man also of the Resurrection at the Last Day what that Body is IN this Corruptible Body which shall rise againe and put on Incorruption and in what Manner with more plainness as I conceive then in his other Bookes After that is here placed his THIRD Apologie in Answer to a Booke of the same Esaias Stiefel concerning Perfection shewing what the Inward and Outward Perfection is which is attainable in this Life and which way we are to demeane our selves for the avoyding of the Errours incident thereto and for the establishing and Consirming the Truth Great Perfection was attained by some mentioned in the Holy Scriptures as Enoch in his walking with God and his Translation Moses when his Face shone like the Sun when he desecended from seeing but the glory that was left after God was passed by the Clift of the Rock whereinto God himself had put him least he should be consumed before that Glory of Gods Face Eliah in his Miraculous Life and taking up alive in a Chariot of Fire into Heaven Christs Transfiguration when his Face also shone like the Sun and his Garments were Bright like lightening in the presence of Peter James and John in Mount Tabor before his Death Stevens Face shining as an Angell when they Stoned him that he dyed and all the Prophets and Holy Men in their Miraculous Conversation upon Earth All these attained High Perfection in this Life our not such as when Mortality shall be swallowd up of Life yet the least among the children of God are of a perfect Heart Other many excellent enquiries are unfolded in this Treatise about the purity and impurity of the Holy Matrimonial Propagation as when Moses sayd to the outwardly Holy Miraculous people after they were brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand and were to have the Law declared to them be sayd come not at your wives and David and his Men when he desired Bread of the High priest was asked by him if the young Men had kept themselves at least from women to whom David answered the women have been kept from us these three dayes by which a great Mystery is hinted and exactly resolved in this Treatise The FOURTH of his Apologies answereth the scandalous reproaches of Gregory Rickter Chiefe Minister of the City of Gerlitz and Primate of the Country of Lusatia in Germany under prince Electour of Saxony wherein this Authors rare temper of Spirit and his deepe decision of the Matters layd against him are evident In it Men may see as in a Looking-Glasse the great hurt any doe to their own Soules who revile and reproach another contrary to the precept and example of our blessed Lord and saviour Jesus Christ who sayd when men revile you revile not againe But Love your Enemies doe good to them that Hate you and persecute you and pray for them that DESPITEFULLY use you that you may be the Children of your Father which is in Heaven If we did know how the wrath gets the upper hand when we forbeare earnestly to exercise our selves in the sincere love to every one without partiality and by respects we would be more diligent and watchfull over our own vile Hearts that we might preserve our Crowne of rejoycing which shall be put on to us in the World to Come from being defiled here by our remisseness it is worth our watching that neither the Devill nor Man may hinder or disappoint us of it The Last treatise is the residue of his Epistles to his friends wherein are many heavenly advices and Instructions in the wayes of God and of the New Birth also they informe us somewhat of his Conversation with Greate Persons and Officers of the Emperour and of the Prince Electour of Saxony a little after his Banishment out of Gerlitz among whom he was lovingly received and his writings and discourses well approved of by the Prince Electour himselfe also by his Councillours and Learned Doctors and other at the End of all is a letter from Dr. Charles Weisner about the whole transaction of that affaire between Gregory Rickter and Jacob Behme together with the opinion of Dr. Hoe one of the Chiefe preachers to the Prince Electour which signifieth how loath they were to Judg a Man whose Gifts they understood not but it doth no were appeare they either thought the Author did not himself understand them or that they could not be understood by others as some among us do These are the totall Remainder of of all his workes Extant either in Print or Manuscript which make up the Catalogue
of it before it was completed so much did Satan hasten to make merry with it or a Bonfire of it and heaped Crosses and tribulation also Enemies enough upon me of purpose to Rob me of my Noble Pearl 37. He exceedingly also covered me with his Thorne bush by my Opponents that he might bereave me of my Jewel till after THREE Years it was sent to me Written from highly Learned People out of my writings who earnestly exhorted me to finish it Then I saw that ym writings were still Extant and wondered at it that it had so hapened to them and understood that they had had them in their hands for TWO Years before and that all along One Good Friend had given them to another to write out Copies of them 38. I understood Also that they were in the Hands of Many Men altogether unknowne to me and that Many enlightened and Honest Pious Hearts had great satisfaction therein who sought not Poyson but a right may to the Divine Life and Christian Conversation therein 39. Who doubtlesse had not such venomous Eyes that the Aspect of the Serpent so suddenly slipped into the Center of their Mind and sought to pervert it but have left it to the Spirit of God and asked Instruction which also they obtained 40. But some of them are so highly Learned and wise persons that the Libeller may not well compare himself with them but I have not heard that any of them should say that the Devill was sitting therein I firmly beleeve that he is sitting in the Libeller in Mind Eyes Heart and Thoughts and suddenly infected him and drave him on to strife 41. For he acknowledgeth himself in the Introduction that he read it over in haste and had not leisure enough surely the Serpent had very suddenly captivated him and after that left him no time to ponder it but only to make Sport with it Certainly if the Libeller had searched further he had found out the Authour 42. And if he had written to me never so little to know how I came by such Meanings and Writings I would have written to him of it very friendly and Christianly this would have become a Christian well especially an enlightened Mind 43. But S r Libeller I conceive thereby that your Artfull Mind is standing in BABEL and would thereby slay ABEL therefore you must answer it before the Judgment of God let this betold you you must know that you have opposed the A. B. C. 44. God hath bestowed so much Grace that in the Second Book which is made we have written much cleerer then in the Pirst and also then you have written in yours The sense is a little Deeper opened to US then to YOU 45. You must know that I see YOUR Writings much better then your self understand them you would flee or soare alost to shew your self and yet your writings are but a fighting with a shadow in the Mystery of God all would be well and men would be at peace if you were not found to be a Scorner as also having a proud unchristian Mind 46. Read my Three Books of the Becoming Man or Incarnation of JESUS CHRIST how we must be conceived and enter into the becoming Man or Incornation of Christ and become New-borne in Christ and how we with Christ must enter into his Death and be buryed with and in him dye with him and Continually slay the Old Man also continually rise with and in Him and Eternally live in Him 47. Also read the Book of the Threefold Life of Man and ye will find the Elernall Divine Nauture and also the Outward Nature of the Starres and Elements a little deeper and More fundamentally Described then in your Libell or Pasquill you will well see what Divine knowledge is Moreover what man is to doe and leave undone and What Faith and Blessedness or Salvation is 48. Also you will find your Crippled and altogether Misexpounded Gracious Election rightly in the Ground that will better accord with the Apostolick Faith and understanding then yours 49. Yours bringeth Men to Desperation to vanity and into meer anxiety of Spirit and not out of it again but mine brings them to the Light that they may see what the Holy Scripture understandeth by Gods Election 50. Also you find therein right knowledge of God and of the substance of all Substances whereas with you there is still a great Mist before it you boast of your knowledge yet Divine skill and knowledge standeth not in Reason but in the Light of God 51. If you will speak so highly of God you must understand and fundamentally know ALL the THREE Principles else your Speech continues to be only a fighting with a shadow and satisfieth not the Hungry Mind Read my Book of the Three Principles of the Divine Substance what will that availe you shall see whether I am a Man or no you should not seek in ME for a Devill as you have done in a very unchristian Manner towards me which ought highly to be reproved in you If you will rightly seek the Heretick whom you reproach you will find him in your own Bosome 52. For he is a HERETICK that wresteth the Scriptures falsly and you doe it not only to my meaning and with my words that are hidden to you which stand yet partly in a Magick understanding but you pervert the Scripture and draw it falsly to your Meaning of the Election of Grace and cast only a Mist before Mens Eyes driving them into Gods Anger and there let them Lye and go your way and moreover forbid any Man to search further about it 53. Yes indeed the Devill might thereby be manifested or revealed and that he would not have or likely my Book hath hit you upon the Calvinist Veine 54. I cannot remedy that if you or others will not read my Book let it alone it is not Printed who bid any write a Copy of it leave it to me I have written it only for my self it is nothing to you I have not run about with it and presented it to any body it is come forth without my will and Desire and without my knowledge as they that first came by it well know 55. But now that you lay to my Charge I have sought my same by it that is an untruth A Christian seeketh not his own honour but Gods honour and in his Love his Neighbour's CHRIST sought not his own honour but his Father 's He desired no honour from Man what should it be desired for then by me 56. The True knowledge of God is not from this World but from God why should a lodging then be sought for it here behold and Consider your self 57. I say with good ground in such a way you have no understanding of my writings you doe but fully them for me with a strange understanding as here further shall be set before your Eyes yet briefly and for the Readers sake who readeth the reproachfull
captive soul which sticketh in the Prison of Darknesse Thou Teachest that God hath not Elected them all That God Hardeneth one part of them and draweth them not in Christ to the Father and givest the Similitude of a Potter As if the SOUL were made or Created and though indeed thou dost not so state it in tearms yet it affordeth such an Understanding 95. Why doe you not set down the Originall of the will to Evill and to Good what is in GOD that Draweth Men to Good and to Evill Wilt thou boast thy self of an Enlightened Mind then thou must know that and set it down for the Comfort of the poor soul that it may not be wavering and unsetled and to think that God hath not created it for a vessel of Honour that it is not born or generated in the Line of CHRIST as thou bringest it in concerning Cain and Abel and usest the bowed perverted Scriptures and leavest out the Best viz. the Love of God which willeth not the Evill and so thou Castest a snare about the Neck of the Soul 96. Well thou art come to my warehouse to which I have invited the Children of God But I tell thee I have no such ware as thou seekest after I have only Comfort for the Children of God and Not Desperation for the Devils I will set forth to thee the Ware I promised if thou wilt not buy let it alone 97. I have not invited the Devil's Advocates to it but Christs Children who would faine be saved although thou boastest Much that the Election of Grace is not to be searched for out of Christ but tellest not how it is to be searched for in CHRIST but layest it aside as if God would not have all Men as if he hardened some out of a Predestinate purpose 98. In that respect I will shew you some of my Wares if you will buy well and good and so you may be a brother in Christ but if not thou thy self wilt not God would indeed but if thou thy self wilt not then thou hardenest thy self 99. The CENTER out of which Evill and Good floweth is IN thee that which thou awakest in thee be it Fire or Light that will be taken in again by its Like either by Gods Anger-fire or by Gods Light-fire Each of them Electeth or chooseth to it self that which is like its property 100. Will any be a Devill then Gods Anger will have him for he is of its property the Election or choosing is suddenly there but will he be an Angel then is the Election or Choosing also suddenly there 101. But hath be been an Evill wicked Man and likely that the Anger of God hath already chosen or Elected him to Damnation and yet letteth in the sparkle of Gods Love again into the Light of Life which not withstanding all the while the outward Man liveth standeth presented to him and calleth him then is also as suddenly the Elector or chooser to the Kingdome of Heven in THAT sparkle and besides with very great Joy and honour more then for Ninety and Nine Elected which need no repentance 102. The soul of Man is from or out of that Center which is called God the Father understand out of the Eternall Beginning lesse Nature it hath the Center to the fire and Light in it self to evill and Good what IT Electeth or chooseth for it self of THAT it is re-Elected or chosen againe and taken up which is to be seen by the Devills 103. They were Angells in Gods Light and their Center Moved it self yet higher then the right of the Angelicall Nature was and awakened in them the Mother of the Originall in the fierce wrath and that also suddenly caught their will-spirit and Elected or chose them to be Creatures of the Dark world 104. Doe you suppose now that it was Gods Predestinate purposed will to have it so then must God have a Devils will in himself and also an Angelicall which is quite contrary to the Holy Scripture also against Gods Love and against the Light of the Eternall Nature 105. But the Pasquill or Libeller understandeth NOT at all what Gods Love and Anger are or what is called God He will speak of Gods will and it is but a fighting with a Shadoe and a Jugling 106. But since he understandeth it not and that through the Grace of God I see his miserable blindnesse how he burneth in the poyson of the Originall and thus affords a right Advocate to the Anger of God as also to the Devill to bolt up and keep the poor foul in the Anger of God therefore I will Discover somewhat to him Now if he will buy well and Good then let IMMANUEL be for US and the Dark world for the Devill 107. But if he will NOT then I have written for the Reader of his Pasquill or Libel if the Reader be a Christian and Entendeth to be saved he will be well able in his Understanding and Mind to distinguish between US This shall be my Answer for this one Time Here followeth further Information and Refutation of the Pasquil or Libel It is noted with the Number where it is to be found in the Libel 108. First the Pasquil sets down for an Entrance a great Register of the Prophesies of CHRIST concerning the last Times How Seducers and HERETICKS would come and say Here is Christ and that we should not then believe them And that the Libeller doth to the End that he may make to himself a stately Entrance and Dore of reproach to the Pasquill or Libel That he may proclaime the Authour for a HERETICK and a man may soon see what he hath in his Mind and Thoughts and what Spirit 's Child he is his Christian vein suddenly appears so that he may lay it upon the Authour 109. Indeed Christ and his Apostles have rightly prophesied and it is or standeth so in the substance and it proteedeth at present with great prevalency when every one Cryeth Here is Christ or There is Christ Run after Me you is a Heretick and Babel at present is quite kindled with Clamour it burneth also in the fire of Gods Anger in its senselesse Sectarianisme so that indeed if it were possible the Elect might be doveived 110. But why doth the Pasquill or Libeller wrest the words of the Prophesie and not say what an HERETICK is He thinks he hath catched a Mouse and seeth not that he himself sticks fast in the Trap. 111. Certainly HERETICKS are such people as are generated or born out of or from Reason out of or from ART which is from the Stars which make an unstedfast Matter or Substance whereas to day one Constellation or Configuration is made and to Morrow that is broken by another where a man must have many things to build with where a man doth but Exchange words and Expounds words with words where the Mind never Experienceth what the Power and understanding of the words are where a
in Gods representing 293. For in God that which is done and past and that which is to come is all one And therefore was the New Regeneration out of Christ reckoned or imputed to the Children of the Covenant as iif they stood already in the New Body of Christ as if Christ had already drowned the Anger with his bloud-shedding and that the Life were already become Generated out of Death againe 294. For that very Life out of the Limit or Mark stood in Gods Imagination and with the Promise in Paradise it set it self therein that very Life was Promised to Abraham that it should be awakened againe in his seed Not in a strange seed as the Libeller conceiteth but in the seed of the Noble Image which out of the Heavenly Substantiality out of the Second Principle was together given to Adam for a Body 295. And yet with the Entrance of the Soul into the Earthlynesse was become shut up in the still Death as in the Nothing and that should againe sprout out of Death and therein rise againe and be borne A New Man in holinesse innocency and Righteousnesse it should againe be put on to the Soul 296. Understand it highly and aright The Life of God in the Covenant of the Limit or Mark which in Mary assumed the humanity that very Life must from Christ enter into us understand into our disappeared Image shut up in Death That is the Graine that is sowen into the Dead disappeared Substantiality that draweth that humane Essence again to it and becometh again the Life of that Image 297. Thus the Noble Lilly Twig or Branch groweth up which first is small as a Graine of Mustard-seed as Christ saith and afterwards becometh as large as a Bay Tree That is the True New Regeneration out of Christ 298. My Libeller put you other Eyes into your Bride and look upon the Old Testament and the Covenant of Promise with or as to Adam and Abraham rightly doe not imbitter the Scripture and drag it not about by the Haire of the head in a strange understanding Your Meaning or Opinion Obscureth the Noble Lilly or Branch which now should sprout or Grow out of the Mother or Roote much more then it doth serve to the promoting of its growth 299. If you would Judge in this Mystery then must you be born againe in Christ you must see out of Christs Eyes if you would apprehend the Great Mystery Mysterium Magnum but if you were born of Christ then you would not be a Mote Judger but a loving Brother 300. Christ bids you not condemne but meekly to converse and friendly Instruct not to wrangle or scoffe or pronounce Men to be in the Jawes of the Devill My friend you are yet very blinde concerning the kingdome of Christ I will rightly shew you the Doore of the Becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ as it is given to me from the Grace of God in the Love of Christ 301. Not through my understanding but in my resignation in Christ from Christs Spirit From Christs Spirit have I conceived or received the knowledge the Great Mystery Mysterium Magnum I have not studied in your Schoole I have knowne nothing of that neither have I sought it in that way I sought only Gods Heart and more is come to me then I sought or understood 302. Therefore if you would be brother in Christ put your Bucks-hornes off and then we may see one another with right Eyes and a modest Mind and instruct one another in the Feare of God 303. Such Surlynesse and Scorne is Babel the Mother of Tyranny and Great spirituall whoredom whence Warres and Strise is arisen at all times your Libell is only a Bloudy provocation and a scoffing an unseemly puffed up Pride a Cainish property goe out from it if you would see the richly Amiable countenance of Christ in the Holy Ternary in Ternario Sancto if you would see the Wonder-Branch of the hidden LILLY which at present Sprouteth out of the Roote of the Tree 304 If you would grow and sprout with the Noble Lilly Branch out of the Old Tree you must bring an humble Heart and so you must stand in the Becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ if you would grow spring or sprout and speak out of or from God 305. For None know any thing of God but only the Spirit of Christ which is in God the Some in the Bosome of the Father searcheth out in our spirit even the Depths of the Deity Our spirit must stand in the Spirit of Christ if we we would understand the Divine Mysterie 306. It is not enough for Men to put together or collect a heap of Scripture Texts and Make an Opinion and Meaning out of them no my Friend Opinion doth it not but the Living Word where the Heart experienceth the certainty therein Consisteth Faith in the Holy Spirit 307. In Opinions there is meere Doubting whether it be right or not Out of Opinions is the Antichrist Generated If we would speak of God then we must speak from or out of the Spirit of Christ which alone knoweth what God is or else we are very Lyars 308. Christs Spirit must speak out of us of the Divine Mysterie else we speak out of the Babel of Confusion Christ is in our right humane Essence understand in Adams Essence become Man not in the Essence of the Starres and Elements but in the Essence of the One Element through which before the fall Paradise grew or sprouted in Adam 309. When the Angel Gabriel came to Mary he Saluted her and sayd Haile Graciously Amiable the Lord is with Thee Thou blessed of all Women thou shalt be impregnate in thy Body and beare a sonne whose name thou shalt call JESUS 310. Here it hath not that understanding as the Libeller Explaines it that Mary was borne out of God before-hand Ere Christ in her became Man No Christ is the first from the Dead he first kindled the Life in Death only the Limit or Mark stood in Mary that was the Blessing For in the Limit or Mark was the Living Word and the Spirit of God Surrounded and Cloathed with the Noble Virgin of the Wisdome of God in the Divine Substantiality 311. When the Angel sayd thou shalt be impregnate in thy Body And shee the Virgin Mary thereupon said Behold I am the Maid-servant of the Lord be it done unto me as thou hast said then the Life in the Limit or Mark of the Covenant viz the Heart of God moved in Maryes in Death included Essence That word was cloathed or surrounded with divine Substantiality out of the Water of Eternall Life generated out of the Meeknesse of the Light of the Majesty of God 312. And in that Substantiality was the Tincture out of the Fire and Light of God which is the Glance or Lustre and Ornament of the Substantiality 313. And in the Tincture was the Chast
understand them not and besides you expound my sence and Mind altogether falsly Who hath called you that you should explaine my obscure deep hidden Writing I had written as a young child in the Mystery of God when I was first come into that Schoole and hung still to the A. B. C come you or any other to this Dance and you will well see whether you can be instantly a Doctor or no. 357. Such a foolish understanding as you impute to me I would scarce look for in a Cow have a care and consider how you will be able to answer it in the presence of God If your Fiction should prevaile then instantly would another Antichrist be generated or born 358. You come marching on with a twofold Seed in Adam one must be Christs Seed and the other Adams Naturall Seed and found the Election of God upon it but you look upon this Mystery as a Cow looketh upon a New Barne Door you understand nothing of it you can not explaine and set it downe with any ground what the Seed of the Noble Image is and yet you will Judge 359. Indeed thou layest a snare before Mens Souls especially the dejected sad sorrowfull Tempted Souls so that many a one thinketh thus with himself saying who knowes whether I be begotten or extracted out of a right Seed out of Christ especially when he feeleth the Assaults of Temptation then he should seek comfort in this Libell 360. You say the Gracious Election is a great Comfort to the children of Christ when they feele Gods Grace in them viz the Womans Seed but where shall he rest that is Assaulted and Tempted by the Devill he may well in your writings despaire he would think continually he were out of or from Adam's Seed and that God will none of him 361. If you will speak so of the Grace-Election then you must not leave out the Love of God which willeth not the Evill you should joyne with it that which Christ saith Father the Men were thine and thou hast given them to Me and I give them the Eternall Life Also Father I will that those whom thou hast given Me be where I am Also I am come to call the sinners to repentance and not the Righteous there is in Heaven among the Angells of God more Joy at one sinner that Repenteth then at Ninety-nine righteous that need Repentance And As true as I live saith the Lord I will not the Death of a sinner but that he turne and live 362. If you will prove any thing with Cain and Abel with Issac and Ishmael also with Esau and Jacob then learne first to understand the Three Principles what the drawing to Good and to Evill is reject not Nature learne first to distinguish the Eternall Nature from the beginning inceptive Nature else you will but lay a snare upon the Bodyes and Souls of your Disciples or Schollers and will but tumble or Grope in the Dark in meere doubting 363. You will build high and yet a Man can find no sufficient ground in all your writing It is as to the Mystery but a fighting with a shaddow Tell me if you be a Master and have an enlightened Mind and Thoughts as you suppose What are the Two Seeds in Adam out of one of which Cain out of the other Abel is generated or borne Is that the Predestinate Purpose of God as you conceit it then demonstrate it 364. You must understand the Birth or Geniture of the Holy Trinity if you will Judge thereof also the understanding of the Dark World also of the fierce Wrath and of the Love of God what God is in Love and Anger what a Devill or an Angel is and how he came to be a Devill 365. Also you must understand the Mysterie of the Divine wisdome Especially you must understand how the Deare Name of God Originateth from Eternity How the Nothing becometh introduced into Nature so that out of the Nothing a source or quality cometh to be If you understand not THESE things then stay with your conceits at home read my Book of the Threefold Life of Man and you will see with other Eyes 366. Christ saith You must be borne anew through Water and the Holy Spirit else you cannot see the Kingdome of God He saith YOU not a stranger YOUR SELF 367. There doth not come another strange Creature into us when we become born out of Christ but when we put our whole desire into God into the becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ into his suffering and Dying and become sorry for our sinnes and desire Gods Mercy in Christ then our Souls will-Will-Spirit goeth forth from sinne and Evill or Malice and entereth into the becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ viz into the Heavenly Substantiality which is greater then all and there the Will-Spirit cometh before the Center viz before the Heart of God 368. That Heart of God is desirous of the Humanity and that graspeth with its desire into the Will-Spirit after the Humanity and thus the Will-Spirit receiveth the Power of the Center viz a Sparkle of the Divine Power 369. And that Sparkle hath on it self the Divine Substantiality viz the Water of the Eternall Life out of the Majesty of God and therein the Wisdome with the Heavenly Tincture this the will-Will-Spirit which is become generated out of the Soul bringeth againe with great Joy into the Souls-Fire 370. And when the Soul-Fire tasteth the sweet Love and Meeknesse in it self in its own Essence then the Essence is so very vehemently terrified that it appeareth overcome as it were dead and loseth its Fiery right and the Fiery Essence falleth into the Meeknesse of the Love viz into the Liberty of God without besides or beyond Nature and yeeldeth it self captive to the Meeknesse viz to the Lights property and is as if it were of the Fiery property and yet were not of it this is a terrour of Great Joy and the Aspect of God in the Divine Power whence Body and Soul doe tremble for Joy 371. For thus the Soulish Fire becometh put out of the Earnest severe paine of the fierce wrath of God of the Eternall Fires Essence and property into another source or quality viz into a Love-Desire for the Light of God kindleth it self in the Souls-Fire for when the Meeknesse and Love Desire cometh into the Magick Souls-Fire then the Love and Meeknesse feeleth the Great Life out of the Fathers Nature 372. For the Meeknesse is a Sinking downe it is the water-Water-Spirit and without the Great Life is as it were dead in comparison of the Fire but when it cometh into the Fire it becometh as vehemently terrified as the Fire in it and the terrour is the kindling of its Life and of the Light 373. Seeing then the Soul in the beginning of its Creation was cloathed and adorned with this Heavenly Substantiality and it was the Souls right inward Body and that the Soul in Adam is gone
who were born in the Light of Nature and of the Spirit that is no fleshly Birth that which is born in the Spirit of the Light is born of God Sir Libeller you have the Property of a Toad which sucketh Evill out of Good what shall I say or write much thereof Number III. Page 26. It standeth thus 412. But if a Man will speak of God what GOD is he must diligently consider the Powers in Nature as also the whole Creation of Heaven and Earth as the Starres and Elements and the Creatures which are proceeded from them then also the Holy Angels Devils Man also Heaven and Hell 413. Hearken Libeller when thou rightly knowest what an Angel is then thou knowest thy self in thy Noble Image and knowest God in his Love according to the Second Principle 414. And when thou rightly knowest what a Devil is then thou knowest Gods Angor and the Dark World 415. And when thou rightly knowest the Stars Elements then thou hast in the Outward Nature the Similitude of the Inward Eternal Nature 416. And when thou rightly conceivest of the Creatures thou then seest by the Creation Gods wonderfull Wisdome and when thou rightly conceivest of the Heaven then thou knowest the difference or distinction of the Principles 417. But Hearken Libeller why should I talk long with thee about it thou art indeed wholly blind as to my Writings thou brigest every where other meanings thereinto then I entended by it Thou sayst Flesh and Bloud cannot Conceive of God thou oughtest not to oppose me in that I say so too and that the Outward Man knoweth or understandeth Nothing of God but the Inward Man especially the Spirit searcheth even the Depths of the Deity 418. I say not That a Beast should Consider the Angells Devills Heaven Hell Starres Elements and Creatures But an understanding Man who is the Child of God who shall have his refreshing therewith that Gods Love Groweth in Him 419. But that which is said concerning the LAW of Nature that those who live or have lived therein and are growne in that Light 's that the blinde Libeller expounds all concerning the outward Nature he understandeth nothing in it 420. The Law of Nature is Gods Commadment when God said to Adams Nature Thou shalt not eate of the Tree that Law is also written in our Minde so that we know we should doe right the very beathens and little Children understand THAT 421. Now if a Man live in that Law and doth that which he well knoweth that it is RIGHT and is generated or born out of the Light of the Eternal Nature out of the Spirit viz out of Gods Heart who will Judge him Thou Moate-Judger stay thou at home 422. When I in that Place speak of the Tree of vegetation viz of the sweet Tree then I understand or meane not the will of the Flesh but the Dominion of the Spirit of God I also speak not of the Corporall and inceptive or beginning Birth but of the Spirituall 423. The sweet Tree is Gods Spirit as is formerly mentioned at Large understand it is the heavenly Substantiality which the Word or Heart of God brought along with it into the Essence of Mary which became Man in Mary that sweet Tree of the Divine Substantiality is greater then all and moveth in the second Principle over US ALL. 424. My whole meaning Aimes at this and though thou understandest it not yet I know it and say with assured Truth that many a Heathen Turk and Infant hath eaten of this Tree in Gods Mercy and though he hath not knowne it plainly by Name that which the outward Man knoweth not that the inward Man knoweth yea the Outlandish People have even Adames Body and Soul as well as we 425. Hearken Libeller what saith Paul Rom. 2. 11. to the 16 There is no respect of Persons with God they who have sinned without Law shall perish without the Law and they who have sinned against the Law they shall be judged by the Law for in the sight of God not the hearers of the Law are justified but those that doe the Law shall be justified for if the Heathen that have not the Law and yet by Nature doe the work of the Law those having not the Law are a Law unto themselves whereby they shew that the Law is written in their Hearts seeing their Conscience witnesseth as also their Thoughts which accuse or exeuse one another till the Day wherein God will Judge the secrets of Manking through JESUS CHRIST according to my Gospel 426. Why then doth the Libeller reject this which I have written that the Law of Nature is written in Mans heart and Every one by Nature Knoweth well and his Conscience witnesseth to him that he should doe Right now if there were a Stranger who knew Nothing of Christ and did from his whole Soul christian works in hope of the Divine Wages Wilt thou condemne him 427. Doest thou not understand that they shall be judged by the Gospel which hear the Gospel and do it not and they which hear it not and do Evill shall be so too and they which heard not Christ Preached nor knew of him and yet were zealous in the Love in the fear of God shall in their zeale enter into the kingdome of God before the stiffe necked Christians which only bear the Name of Christ 428. If thou canst then blame Saint Paul to his face as thou doest me Thou unintelligent fierce wrathfull envious Libeller Thou Judgest me and Condemnest me Contrary to the Commandment of Christ who saith Judge not and you shall not be Judged condemn'not so you shall not be condemned With what Measure you Meet to others will others Meet unto you again 429. What need you spread abroad such a reproachfull Libel among the People and Judge my written unprinted Writings which I wrote only for a Memoriall to my self which are come to Light without my will and to condemn me in such a vaine frivolous and altogether Diabolicall manner 430. Thou Moate-Judger was this commanded thee it was not done in respect of the Authour of the Book but that thou mightest make shew of thy fine high understanding Thoughts what a Master of Scripture and Man of understanding thou art but I find thee in Babel with an unchristain Mind go on so and thou wilt be found a very faithfull Labourer to our Lord God in his Vineyard will you not think you 431. Thou hast in thy disgracefull Libel set it down thy self that men should condemn none but it is free for THEE only what thou forbiddest to another THOU only mayst Judge that which is secret 432. Had I known that my Book should have been read likely it had been written clearlier with plain words though it is clear enough but thou art blind The Moat or Splinter of the Thorne of Pride to shew himself to his brother Abel like Cain
Devill that the Libeller perverts as one that understandeth nothing of my Writings or else of meere Malice Did he not see how I have described with all Circumstances that Gods Heart or Love went not into the Devill for he the Devill would not himself have it now where the Will it self willeth not there is an Eternall Death 536. The Will-Spirit was indeed in the Originall out of Gods Nature but when it demersed it self into the Center to hide it self from the Light of God then remained fierce wrathfulnesse IN fierce wrathfulnesse With what now should resistance be made it was now in its most Originall MOTHER 537. Should Gods Love goe into the Hellish Fire that is not to be should God in his Wrath strive against it it sate already in the Hellish Fire Had not fierce Wrath striven with fierce Wrath then had not Gods Anger yet moved in the place of this World 538. Consider but the Earth thou wilt well finde it thou blinde World with all thy Texts of Scripture which thou hast produced thou wilt not put one word in my Book back from its place only that thou settest a strange vizard upon me that the people might not know me which I esteem not for I am to YOU a very strange Man 539. Thou canst not in thy Hood look me in the Face thou must put off thy skinne if thou wilt see the Spirit of the Mystery Thou understandest Not what thou writest against me thou discoursest not concerning my apprehension and that maketh that thou seest somewhat that is strange thou wilt not see that it is the Roote of the Tree Thou wilt sooner leap into Hell as Lucifer did e're thou touchest one little twig thereof 540. Thou runnest againe into thy Center towards Babel and settest upon an Academy out of which Opinons and the Greatest Babel is growne out of which all Strife hath followed where Men have contended about Words about the Shell and let the Kernell lye but hearken friend tell but TEN and thou wilt find it by Experience 541. God hath Elected ALL of us in ONE Soul and in ONE Spirituall Body to be his Children God hath not breathed into Adam TWO Spirits but One only which is the Spirit of all the Three Principles of all Three Worlds viz a fire-light-and-aire-Fire-Light-and-Aire-Spirit 542. Adam should have managed his Dominion with the light-Light-Spirit then would the Fire-source or quality have been hidden in its Principle and have stood in great joy it had burned only in it self 543. Thus also the Spirit of this World that should also have stood only in it self and have been manifest in this World and the Fire and also the Outward World should have stood as if were swollowed up into the Light and have been manifest only in it self all desires should have been set in the Light and then the Light had shined in all Essences and desires and had filled all as in ONE Will. 544. But when the Will of the Center viz the Fiery Will which is called the Soul went into the Earthly kingdome and Imagined after Evill and Good then it received also the same then its Light Extinguished and it remained in its Mother a dark dry hunger and must help it self with the Spirit of this World as with a Sun-Light 545. Therefore it comes to passe that many times when a Man goeth in the dark he is astonished and terrified and alwayes afraid somewhat should lay hold on him that is the feare of the Soul whèn it perceiveth it self to be without the Light of the Sun in a dark Dungeon it is afraid of Gods fierce Wrath in the Center and of the Devills that dwell in the Darknesse 546. Since then the Divine Light is Extinguished in the Soul therefore Mans Life and Spirit at present without the New Birth standeth in two Regiments or Dominions viz in the Souls Fire it is the Dominion of Gods Anger and of the fierce Wrath as the Fires property is 547. And according to the Spirit of this World it is Evill and Good according to the Sun and according to the Constellation of the Outward Starry and Elementary Spirit it is alwayes according to its Constellation which stood in its Birth as also hath stood in its Conception As that it is at all times aspected with the Conjunction of the Constellatison with the Imagination of the Constellation so is also the outward Will-Spirit unlesse it be that the Soul doe attaine the Divine Light againe in the New Birth and then the Soul constraineth the outward Spirit with the power of the Light and leadeth it captive 548. My Libeller your conceit deceiveth you I know of no more but ONE only Spirit according to the Property of ALL THREE Worlds which is in Man and when the Light Extinguisheth then it is in TWO Properties that which receiveth the Light of God that is Elected to be a childe of God 549. Now it lyeth indeed in Man that he should seek and desire it for Christ saith Knock and it will be opened unto you seek and you will finde Ask and you will receive Your Father will give the Holy Spirit to him that asketh for it Also There is no sonne that asketh for an Egge and the Father giveth him a Scorpion God willeth that all Men be saved 550. Where now remaines in these words and Promises the predestinate purpose of God to the Hardening or where are the Two Spirits whereof God loveth the one and hardeneth the other We have indeed All but One only Soul and that is free it may frame its Will in Gods Love or Anger into which soever it casteth it self with its desire there it is 551. It cometh to passe many times that a Soul hath demersed it self with its Will-Spirit into Gods Anger into the Dark World in its fierce Wrath to all Devills with its sinnes and yet many in the time of this world goe out againe and convert and God receiveth them to Grace He hardeneth them not 552. Have you not an Example in the Prodigali lost sonne who had consumed all his righteousnesse of his Fathers Inheritance with the Devills Swine and was become a Swinheard What the Father did with him when he came againe how he fell about hu neck and kissed him and said This is my beloved sonne whom I had lost he was dead and is become living it is likely thou wilt say God drew him else he had not come 553. The Soul is Free God draweth every one who incline towards him when it entereth into him then it is Elected to the Light World so long as the Will remaineth in the fierce Wrath in the Dark World covered with the Outward so long God willeth it not and it is not drawne but when it inclineth it self towards Gods Face and doth but a little Imagine into Gods Love then the Divine Life becometh stirring 554. Understand the Word is become Man or Incarnate and standeth in the